CIMM – International Student Eligibility and Vulnerability – February 28, 2024

Key Facts and Figures

• In the past five years, the number of international students in Canada has nearly doubled from 567,000 to over 1,000,000.
• From December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023 alone, the number of international students in Canada grew by over 200,000, the largest annual increase in the program’s history.

Key Messages

• In recent years, we have seen rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada. Some institutions have significantly increased the number of international students they receive to drive revenues, and more students have been arriving in Canada without the proper supports they need to succeed. This also puts pressure on housing, health care and other services.
• Further, we have seen the rise of nefarious actors preying on international students for financial gain. These developments have threatened the integrity of the program overall.
• To help address student vulnerability, the Department is implementing measures that will better equip international students to navigate life in Canada, while also protecting them against exploitative situations.
• Since December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLIs) have been required to confirm directly with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada every letter of acceptance submitted as part of a study permit application. This new, enhanced verification process aims to protect prospective students from letter‑of‑acceptance fraud.
• As of January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants has been raised so that international students are financially better prepared for life in Canada. A single applicant now needs to show they have $20,635 (an increase from $10,000) in addition to their first year of tuition and travel expenses.
• A cap on the number of most study permit applications, in place since January 22, 2024, is expected to ease housing pressures in certain locations, making it easier for international students to find adequate housing when they arrive.
• The forthcoming Recognized Institutions Framework (announced in October 2023) is meant to incentivize DLIs to improve the supports they offer to their international students, including DLI-administered housing. [Redacted].
• Taken together, these measures aim to ensure genuine students receive the support they require and have the resources they need for an enriching study experience in Canada, while at the same time stabilizing the overall number of students arriving and alleviating pressures on housing, health care and other services in Canada.

Supplementary Information

Increasing the financial threshold

• The previous financial requirement to obtain a study permit had been remained the same since the early 2000s at $10,000 for single applicants, rising to $14,000 for student coming with one family member and $17,000 for those with two accompanying family members.
• Prior to this change, the requirements had not been update in over 20 years despite significant changes in the cost of living.
• Moving forward, this threshold will be adjusted each year when Statistics Canada updates the low-income cut-off (LICO). LICO represents the minimum income necessary to ensure that an individual doesn’t have to spend a greater than average portion of income on necessities.
• The minimum funds requirement represents 75% of LICO: $20,635 for single applicants and rising to $25,690 for student coming with one family member and $31,583 for those with two accompanying family members.
• The minimum funds requirement of CAN $20,635 aligns closely with Australia’s financial requirement for student visas, which was increased to AUD $24,505 (approximately CAN $21,500) on October 1, 2023, to reflect higher living expenses.